Allsop Diary

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Five diaries of W.J.A. Allsop that cover the period 1915-1917 were purchased by the Mitchell Library in 1920. In August 2012, Geraldine Walsh spoke to Allsop's son John, who shared this diary with the 'Doing our bit, Mosman 1914-1918' project.

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Page 11
Indexed

Page 11

January 1916

20 Thursday

Stretcher Carrying. Trial trip over new line on this side of canal. Engine pushing one carriage in front of it. O.C. & others went Ismailia to select new camping ground. On Guard 4.30 pm. 500 Camels arrived with transport of Indians from Ismailia.

21 Friday

On Guard. Camels crossed Canal Rumours that 8th Brigade are to be used as reserves in Ismailia whilst all the other troops form the 1st line extending as far as Serapeum

22 Saturday

Col. Shepherd arrived. Stretcher Carrying. Mails delivered. Very striking scene when Implacable came back up the canal bands playing & bluejackets cheering whilst all soldiers on shore rang out deafening cheers. Most impressive

23 Sunday

Church Parade. Serg. from 29th Inf run over on railway. Both legs cut off. Terrible sight. Soon died.

Last edit about 11 years ago by twofruits
Page 12
Indexed

Page 12

January 1916

24 Monday

Carrying heavy stretchers all day Trains arriving regularly out of Serapeum with troops of 5th, 6th & 7 Batt late of Dardanelles. They say it was the only thing to do to leave Dard. because neither side could move on account of Machine Guns. One man in our tent speaking about the rat which gave him a fright. Turk caught in barbed wire calling for Allah " soon riddled with bullets. Letter from Bank "Beachy Bill"

25 Tuesday

Actually raining hard last night A most extraordinary thing. Ascanius passed. Sheepskin vests given out - Presented by a [person] from Aust. Chaps all making noises like sheep. Bitterly cold. Thousands of Aust. troops arriving from Dardanelles Pontoon Bridge arrived

26 Wednesday

Bridge built over canal & transport going across all shipping stopped in daytime. Bitterly cold. Kit inspection. List of shortages taken Pay Day. McCabe when giving in his [name?] for a jest asked to be supplied with pair of horns.

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
Page 13
Complete

Page 13

January 1916

27 Thursday

Raining & Bitterly Cold. Trouble at Canteen. Officers batman robbed of Bread. Mob [lead] by [Hoffmann ?] from Brighton. Last of our outposts return wet through. Slept 14 in tent. 2 Aeroplanes sighted

28 Friday

Again raining. Shortage of breakfast due to feeding about 50 Inf from our ration Wood supply run out. No more warm meals until supply replenished Poor management. Troop trains arriving all night. Camp on other side of Canal puts Liverpool in the shade

29 Saturday

More troops arriving last night. Too Cold to sleep. Clearing Hospital arrived. French mail boat Amazone passed. Very strenuous work carrying "wounded" over sand.

30 Sunday

Beautiful Day. Lying on banks of Suez Canal reading. N. Z. troops arrived including artillery on guard all night.

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
Page 14
Complete

Page 14

Jan. & Feb. 1916

31 Monday

Another lovely cloudless day. On Guard all day. Artillery & numbers of transports crossed over the Canal. Cartloads of timber. Limbers of new stretchers.

1 Tuesday

Light Duty with boil. Whole unit going out for the Day with stretchers, medical supplies, tents etc. as on Active Service. Telephone Duties. More Infantry 4 Battalion arrived. Light Horse Advance Guard reached here.

2 Wednesday

Battleship H. M. S. Cornwallis passed in Suez direction. 12 in. guns & aircraft guns. Fine sight & beautiful day. Jack Tars cheering & band on board playing Tipperary. Our Boys cheered themselves hoarse. Rumours that we are leaving. Telephone Duties.

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
Page 15
Indexed

Page 15

February 1916

3 Thursday

Letter from [Ted Geach] England Orders to prepare for departure to Tel-el-Kebir. Everything packed up and sent to Railway. H.M.S. Jupiter passed in Suez direction. Big ship with funnels side by side. N.N.M.R doing our transport. Carried patients across Canal to clearing hospital Preparations have advanced rapidly on the other side. Road, Heavy & Light Railway. 7 Battalion. 2nd & 3rd Brigades Trench mortars. Lion sunk 2 Battleships & 1 Cruiser news from passing ship

4 Friday

Slept in old building used as Barracks at time Canal was being built, trouble with bugs Pipe run across the Canal with Donkey engine on the other side to pump water across. Bugle calls again being used.

5 Saturday

Slept in old buildings again last night killed 5 bugs on me this morning. Digging Dugout. Letter from Bank. Not allowed to visit Port Said. We are now attached temporarily to the 1st Division For some time there has been doubt as to where we would go. We were with the 10th Indians for a time, then other Aust. Div. wanted us. Now it is thought that we are forming a new Division with the 4th, 8th & new Brigade of Re-Infs from Cairo so that we will be the first to go into action, most likely France.

6 Sunday

Turks abandoned Canal Attack. Caught a bat. Roy bought Camera. Malwa passed for Australia. Ladies

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
Displaying pages 11 - 15 of 119 in total